My DD was the class of 2016 and it was a very small class from the start, so it's important to take that into account. We were told that applications were reviewed upon completion, but that does not necessarily mean that the applications are acted upon when they are reviewed. Her ALO and her coach were watching the process throughout and at the time thought she was a strong candidate for an LOA, and though her application was fully complete in September, she did not get her appointment until early March when the bulk of the appointments were extended. She was not a blue chip athlete (though she was being watched by the coach) and was part of the Diversity Visitation Program in mid-November. She maxed most of the CFA and had a strong application all the way round and got multiple noms...and STILL didn't hear until March.
So that could have been an anomaly for that year given the directive to reduce enrollment at USAFA down to its legislatively mandated size, but that's the way it ran for her.
Good luck, and be patient! Veteran posters on this site always talk about the "hurry up and wait" syndrome of the military!